Pest identification
What's eating my agave bovicornuta?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown shell-like bumps on leaf surfaces and undersides; honeydew and sooty mold follow
Control: Dislodge with alcohol-soaked cloth; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray; check every two weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at leaf bases and along the serrated margins; yellowish, soft growth
Control: Remove with isopropyl alcohol swabs; drench leaf axils with diluted neem oil; repeat weekly
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf surfaces during hot, dry indoor conditions
Control: Increase air circulation and humidity; wipe leaves and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil
Keep agave bovicornuta pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Agave bovicornuta pests — FAQ
What is eating my agave bovicornuta?
Agave bovicornuta, a large ornamental agave grown as a houseplant or patio specimen, is most often plagued by scale insects and mealybugs in its leaf axils. In very warm conditions spider mites can appear. Its thick fleshy leaves also make it susceptible to fungal rot if wounds left by pests are not kept dry.
How do I get rid of scale insects on agave bovicornuta?
Brown shell-like bumps on leaf surfaces and undersides; honeydew and sooty mold follow Dislodge with alcohol-soaked cloth; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray; check every two weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on agave bovicornuta?
White cottony clusters at leaf bases and along the serrated margins; yellowish, soft growth Remove with isopropyl alcohol swabs; drench leaf axils with diluted neem oil; repeat weekly
How do I get rid of spider mites on agave bovicornuta?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf surfaces during hot, dry indoor conditions Increase air circulation and humidity; wipe leaves and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil